JPS61224648A - Memoing function for personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for entering telephone notes or notes into a computer.

Among the variety of programs available for today's computers, particularly personal computers, there are programs that provide the ability for users to enter and store notes or notes during telephone communications. However, the known devices are not fully satisfactory. Typically, this memo or note-taking program is stored on a floppy disk or other medium. When a user wishes to take notes, the user first locates a floppy disk, physically inserts it into the disk drive, and waits for the program to load into the computer's main memory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A more obvious and preferred solution is to integrate the note-taking function into the computer so that it is accessible at all times. The present invention relates to this type of note-taking function. More specifically, the invention is used in a computer to which a telephone is connected, and the operation of the note-taking function is automatically initiated in response to the initiation of a telephone conversation by the user. Terminology 1 “Telephone communication”
This includes, for example, dialing an outgoing call or answering an incoming call, for example, by picking up a telephone handset.

According to a feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a telephone conversation is initiated, the user is prompted with an indication as to whether or not to take notes during the conversation. If the user provides a positive indication, the facility is immediately ready to receive notes, and these inputs are accompanied by notes being displayed on the computer.

According to yet another feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an association is maintained between notes taken during each telephone conversation and the other party of this conversation. Memos associated with this person are then retrieved, for example, by specifying the person's name. More specifically, in accordance with another feature of the present invention, notes associated with a party are automatically retrieved and displayed to the user when a subsequent telephone conversation occurs with that party.

The personal computer 10 shown in FIG.
- Operates under the control of the operating system. The computer includes a screen 11, a keyboard 13 and a mouse 14, as well as other internal components not shown in FIG. 1, such as a floppy disk drive and a hard disk drive. Keyboards and mice, more particularly, provide a mechanism for entering input information and naming into a computer. Several keyboard keys, ie, several system control keys, are shown in FIG. Some of these will be explained in detail later.

A telephone 18 is shown in conjunction with computer 10. A connector (not shown) on the back of computer 10 provides connection of a telephone 18 and at least one telephone line to the computer.

The operating system provides the user with a windowing interface that displays the various tasks the user is performing in separate screen areas called windows. The functionality and implementation of this windowing operation is well known in the art. This windowing behavior is a feature of some commercially available computers, such as those from Apple.

However, it is worthwhile to discuss this windowing capability for purposes of providing background on the invention.

The third illustration shows office window 3.
0 is shown. This is when the computer is turned on and some initial tasks are performed, such as the operating system's 6-brush operation from the hard disk drive mentioned above.
is executed and displayed after the user logs in.

This office window displays a menu called ``1Object''.
dmin, kit) includes functions used for computer housekeeping and maintenance purposes; clipboard (C11pboard) is a temporary location for information transmitted from one location to another; file cabinet (Filecabinet)
'l'olephone' is where the tasks performed by the user are stored; 'l'olephone' is the function most relevant to the purpose of the present invention and includes various phone names and functions; Preferences is where the environment Customize and
used for display on a computer. One of these references is that the call screen described later is
For example, it is used to select whether the handset of a telephone should be presented to the user when lifted for an outgoing call. The Service provides access to certain application software, such as language compilers; West Basket contains previously deleted information.

In addition to this, a so-called status line 39 is always displayed at the top of the screen. This computer has the ability to connect two telephone lines, which are designated in the Admin Kit as a "voice" line and a "data" line, and the status line shows the current status of each line. For example, it indicates idle, active, hold, etc.

The highlight indicates which of the two lines is currently "selected". The current date and time are also displayed.

The screen display also includes eight screen keys 38, which have names corresponding to one action that spatially correspond to keyboard function keys 13c. These labels and corresponding functions change each time a different window is displayed and/or each time a different computer function is invoked.

The user is given several functions depending on which window operation is currently being performed. For example, a user "points" to a particular object that he or she wishes to touch by providing a highlight. More specifically, in FIG. 3, a telephone object within an office window is highlighted. This highlighting action can be accomplished by moving the mouse 14 such that the cursor 31 points to the desired object, or by operating the appropriate one of the six system control"keys, generally designated 13a, on the keyboard 13. As mentioned above, a map of the keys 13a is shown in FIG. 2. As will be explained later, at least some of these keys have dual system control functions, while some others are numerically controlled. Functions as a pad (not shown in Figure 2).

These functions are selected by pressing the shift key 13d6 or the numeric lock key 13e together with the desired system control key.

The system control keys 13& are, more specifically, a begin key for pointing to or highlighting the topmost item in a list; an end key for pointing to the last item in a list; and a next (or Contains the next (or pre-pierce) key to point to the previous) item. The window can be activated by pressing key 13 & another exit key or by cursor 31 controlled by the mouse.
1. Select an icon by pointing to the exit icon 32 of the window 30 and then pressing the key 14a on the mouse to close the icon. Functions related to other windows can also be closed by pressing the action key 13m. or by pointing to and selecting the corresponding window icon, e.g. help icon 33, window size icon 34, scrolling icon 35 or window operation icon 36. The status line 39 further includes a window management icon 33 which, when pointed to and selected, displays a window listing all windows that are currently open. Once the desired object, in this case the ``Telephone'' object, has been pointed to, the user can select it by the mouse key 14a or by pressing the Enter key 13b on the keyboard 13. When this action is performed, a second window, call screen 40, is displayed on the screen above the office window 30, as shown in FIG. This window, like all windows generated by the system, has its own set of icons.The call screen 40 indicates that this is currently an activity.
Although the borders of office windows are usually dark,
Currently highlighted. In addition, screen keys 38 currently have different labels corresponding to different telephone functions.

These include hold and hang up, line selection, resolution and call timer functions. Other features allow the user to search and edit stored name and number directories and search call history.

Within the call screen 40 are the following: a) entered by the user in the directory of this item; and b)
Names and phone numbers designated by the user to appear in the call screen (eg, because they are the numbers most frequently used by the user) are displayed. A call to a particular one of the individuals listed will be directed to the desired item, in this case 1 Bill Putnam (bill Putnam).
ll putnam)'' and then select it.

If an item for a person is not specified in its call screen, pressing the Page key on key 13m will instead display a die lefty screen (not shown) containing all die lefties for which the call screen is an item. be done. Once the desired item has been found, for example by scrolling through the direct left, this item can then be pointed to and selected. Alternatively, you can open a new search window (not shown) by pressing the one associated with the Direct Left Search screen key on Function Key-38 and add search information to it, such as the person's name or part of the name. You can also enter the part. The user then presses the enter key 13b
Press. When a matching directry entry is found,
The search window disappears and the item is displayed (highlighted in the directory screen).

At this point, the computer dials the listed phone number via circuitry that will be described later. The user is
Simply pick up the handset of telephone 1B, wait for the other party to answer, and start a conversation.

According to the present invention, when a user initiates a telephone activity, in this case an outgoing call, the computer's note-taking function is automatically initiated. A flow diagram of a program that performs this function is shown in FIG. 12 and will be described later. Here, the memo-taking function will be explained in relation to various windows that are displayed as the memo-taking operation progresses.

More specifically, the computer now displays a confirm window 50 as shown in FIG. At this point, if the user does nothing, window 50 will disappear after a predetermined period of time. Once the call is terminated and the handset is hung up, the user may, for example, initiate another call from the call screen 40 or close the call screen.

On the other hand, if the user wishes to take notes regarding the call, the user presses the enter key 13b when the Hunfirm window 50 is displayed. The computer then displays another window, the current note window 60, shown in FIG. At this point, the user enters from the keyboard 13 the desired notes associated with the telephone call, which appear in the window 60 as they are entered. At the same time, the previously entered notes associated with the same called party are displayed in another window, the pre-piercing notes window 65. Window 60 is the currently active window. To make window 65 the active window, the user may, for example,
Activate one of the function keys 13c associated with the ``Window'' screen key.Another method is used to make any window the active window and bring it to the front of the screen; is used to point to the desired area of the window and then select it. Once the window 65 is activated, the user may, for example, select a particular one of the system control keys 13a. At this point, the top window screen key becomes the bottom window screen key, which provides a mechanism for making the current note window active again.

If at any time the user wishes to discard the notes entered in the current notes screen, this is accomplished by pressing the one of the function keys 13c associated with the notes discard screen key. Otherwise, once window 60 is exited, the note is saved and at this point windows 60 and 65
both disappear and call screen 40 (Figure 4) becomes the active window again.

Other mechanisms for making outgoing calls are also initiated by the computer. For example, another way to open and activate the call screen is to move the shift key 13d to one of the function keys 13c, i.e.
There is a method of pressing with a particular one called call in FIG. In addition to this, once the call screen is activated by any means;
Initiating an outgoing call a) by entering a telephone number from the keyboard or by entering a name or part of a name stored in the aforementioned telephone directory; and b) by pressing the enter key 13b. Can be done. In this case, the directory is searched for the purpose of finding a suitable telephone number. As before, confirm
A window will appear, giving you the opportunity to take notes regarding the call.

For telephone calls and incoming calls dialed by entering a telephone number from a keyboard as described above, the note-taking function of the computer is entered in a slightly different manner.

More specifically, in these individual cases, a call notes window is automatically displayed. As shown in FIG. 7, this window, called window 70, provides a space 71 in which the user can type the name of the other party. If the call is dialed by entering the number on the screen, the dialed telephone number is displayed in a window. In other cases, that is, in the case of an incoming call, a space, 72
You will be provided with the required phone number to enter the other party's phone number. Once the call note window information has been entered and the user presses the enter key 13b, the call note window disappears and the current note window 60 and pre-piercing note window 65 are displayed, as described above.

Direct left entry entries may be created and/or edited by one of the direct left entry screen keys that appear with the function key 13c call screen (FIG. 4). The user is now presented with a directory editing window with the following options: ``Generate Voice Entry'', ``Generate Data Entry'', ``Delete Entry'' and ``Modify Entry''. provided to be selected by the user.

Once an option is selected, further windows will appear. For example, if the generation of a "voice entry" is selected, a window containing the format for the generation of a voice entry is displayed. As shown in Figure 8,
This form, referenced by 80, includes - by way of example, the party's name, telephone number, alternate telephone number, and e-mail address.

The user may also specify, for example, whether this item is a call screen item.

If the user then presses the enter key 13b, the form is exited and the item is saved.

Another aspect of the note-taking function is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. More specifically, if the user does not respond affirmatively to the confirm window 50 within the allotted time and nevertheless wishes to take notes about the call, the user presses the command key, which This is one of the system control keys 13b. As shown in FIG. 9, this causes a call screen and associated instruction window 90 to be displayed. By selecting and pointing to the item "Take Notes on Call," the user can display a current notes window 60 and a prepared notes window 65, as shown in FIG.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, selecting ``6 Notes File Display'' causes all notes for the highlighted item to be displayed in window 100.

Next, hardware and software for implementing this exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic block diagram of computer 10. At the heart of the computer is a microprocessor 111 that communicates with peripheral devices via bus 11°. These peripheral devices include a ROM 113, a RAMI 15, a memory management circuit 112, and an interrupt control 118, respectively.
and various other peripheral devices shown collectively at 116. The control also includes three other peripheral circuits, including various power functions such as a dial network 119, a telephone sensor 122, and a telephone control circuit 125.

More specifically, the telephone control circuit 125 basically consists of various relays. This serves, for example, to connect the telephone set 18 and/or dial network 119 to an associated telephone line, the telephone line 19 being shown in FIG. The relays in circuit 125 can be controlled by the processor to pulse the telephone line simulating rotary dial pulses. Dial network 119 is a circuit that operates under the control of processor 111 and is used to dial telephone numbers using multi-frequency tones. The choice of whether to use pulses or tones is defined within the 7-dom kit described above. Telephone sensor 122 includes sensor circuitry to detect on/off hook and ring states, as well as busy and dial tones, for example. These sensors are installed in the processor and periodically sample tested.

The program that implements the note-taking function and all of the computer's phone-related operations is referred to here as 'Hone'.
This is one of the programs that is called in the background during the boot process.

This horn manager, for example,
14. Provides the first opportunity to perform initialization, including loading the horn direct left tree, etc. At this point, the phone manager makes a system call indicating that it wants to receive UNIX signals from a piece of software in the operating system called the telephone hardware driver routine. The latter is activated by the processor 111 when it is determined by the processor 111 that a change has occurred in the state of the telephone, e.g. from the polling operation of the sensor 122, such as the handset of the telephone being taken off-hook.
11. Meanwhile, the driver routine responds to this change by sending an UN message to the phone manager.
Generate IX signal.

Figure 12 is a telephone manager closely related to the present invention.
2 is a flowchart showing one aspect of the program. More specifically,
Once the initialization described above, indicated as 121, is completed, the program enters a wait state 123. This occurs when one of three events related to the note-taking function occurs from this state. (Other events not related to the note-taking function,
For example, events requiring changes in status line 39 may also call the program from this wait state, but these will not be discussed here. ) The first possible event is that the user activates the call screen 40 by some action, such as pressing the call key mentioned above or the office window 30 to 6.
A possible action is to select the "telephone" object.

The program responds by displaying a call screen, as shown at block 126. block 1
Another possible event is when the user, as the user's first choice, puts the telephone 18 off-hook for the purpose of making an outgoing call, and the telephone actually goes off-hook, as shown at 24. , a case may be made in which the telephone manager is designated in advance to be called. A call screen will appear here as well. This trigger mechanism determines that the handset has been taken off hook from the periodic polling of sensor 122 by processor 111.

If the user exits the call screen, as indicated by block 127, without making a call from this screen or the directry screen, or without entering a phone number, name, or part of a name, the program waits. Return to state 123. On the other hand, if the outgoing call was initiated through the computer, a confirmation window 50 is displayed, as shown at block 131. If a third possible event occurs, as indicated by block 128, a call comes in and the phone is taken off hook, then the Hunfirm window is displayed. (Each time the Telephone Manager exits wait state 123, and before it proceeds to block 124.126 or 128, it checks if there have been any changes to the user since the last wait state was exited; (If so, the program performs additional tasks, such as checking if a memo directory exists for that user and creating it if it does not exist.) As shown in block 132, if the user If there is no indication that a note needs to be taken, the program returns to wait state 123. Here, it is assumed that the user intends to take notes. If it is determined at block 134 that the call is not initiated from a call screen or direct left screen, the program displays a call notes window 70 to obtain information about the caller, such as the caller's name. Otherwise, this step is skipped since the identity of the other party is already known by the computer.

After obtaining the person's name, the program examines the files in the UNIX directory. Within this UNIX directory, as shown at block 141, a telephone note is stored to determine if there is already a note taken regarding this party. If present, these notes are displayed in the pre-piercing notes window 65. If not, the program directly displays the current note window 60 as shown at block 144. The program then blocks 145
As shown in , input from the user is received while the user desires input. When the user finishes inputting the memo, the user exits from the window 60. As shown at block 148, the appropriate file in the memo directory is now created or updated with the newly entered memo, and the memo window is removed.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise various devices not expressly shown or described herein that embody the principles of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a personal computer in which an example of the invention is implemented; FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of some of the keys on the keyboard of the computer of FIG. 1; FIGS. 11 shows a schematic block diagram of the computer 10 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 12 illustrates the operation of computer 10 with note-taking capabilities in accordance with the present invention. A flowchart is shown in relation to the following. [Explanation of symbols of main parts] Operation starting device...113,122 Applicant: American Telephone & Telegraph Company FIG, / BF/, 2 FIG, J (M) - Kaimonsho Lock gate mθ

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A computer having a device adapted for taking notes and having a function of receiving and storing notes taken during telephone communications, comprising: A computer comprising: a device for initiating operation of the note-taking function in response to the start of the note-taking function. 2. In the computer according to claim 1, the memo-taking function prompts an indicator as to whether or not to take notes during the current telephone conversation, and in response to this positive indicator, , apparatus for initiating operation of the receiving and storing device, FIG. 5 (affirmation window) and; FIG. 12 (131-14
4) A computer comprising the device according to item 4). 3. The computer according to claim 1, wherein the receiving and storing device maintains an association between notes taken during each telephone conversation and the party with whom the user communicated. 141-142 for retrieving and displaying notes associated with the party in response to the party's designations. computer. 4. The computer according to claim 3, wherein after the first telephone conversation between the user and the other party, the second telephone conversation between the user and the other party is performed in response to an indicator indicating a second telephone conversation with the other party. A device characterized in that it includes a device for operating a search and display device. 5. A method for use in a computer comprising a note-taking device for receiving and storing notes taken during a telephone conversation, the method comprising: in response to initiation of a telephone conversation by a user of the computer; A method comprising the step of activating the note-taking device. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of initiating a note-taking operation includes the step of prompting the user for an indication of whether or not to take notes during the current telephone conversation. A method characterized by comprising: 7. In the method according to claim 6, further indicating that a second telephone communication with the other party has been started after the first telephone communication between the user and the other party. A method comprising the step of retrieving and displaying notes entered during the first telephone interaction in response to an indicator.